Strange Casting Decisions that Turned Out Awesome

August 23, 2013 12:03 PM

Photo: Francois Duhamel/Associated Press

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Relax, Internet. Ben Affleck is going to be just fine as the new Batman. And for the record, there have been stranger casting decisions than a brown-haired, physically-fit, ruggedly-handsome, English-speaking, adult male in the role of Bruce Wayne (even if the guy did stink up "Daredevil.") Here are some of the weirdest casting decisions ever made – or at least they seemed that way at the time – that ended up being awesome. less

Relax, Internet. Ben Affleck is going to be just fine as the new Batman. And for the record, there have been stranger casting decisions than a brown-haired, physically-fit, ruggedly-handsome, English-speaking, ... more

Photo: Archive Photos, Getty Images

Relax, Internet. Ben Affleck is going to be just fine as the new... Photo-5083641.68751 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Michael Keaton as Batman in "Batman" – Prior to 1989's Batman, Michael Keaton was mostly known for his comedic roles, and specifically as "Mr. Mom."

Michael Keaton as Batman in "Batman" – Prior to 1989's Batman, Michael Keaton was mostly known for his comedic roles, and specifically as "Mr. Mom."

Heath Ledger as The Joker in "The Dark Knight" – No one thought Jack Nicholson's 1989 Joker role could be topped, but casting Ledger seemed like a particularly strange choice. Not only did Ledger end up pulling it off, he ended up redefining the role and making Nicholson's clown look foolish (and not in a good way). less

Heath Ledger as The Joker in "The Dark Knight" – No one thought Jack Nicholson's 1989 Joker role could be topped, but casting Ledger seemed like a particularly strange choice. Not only did Ledger end up ... more

Rodney Dangerfield as Ed Wilson in "Natural Born Killers" – Moviegoers and comedy fans were used to seeing Dangerfield in lighter fare, but there was nothing light about the role of a perverted, sexually and physically abusive father. less

Rodney Dangerfield as Ed Wilson in "Natural Born Killers" – Moviegoers and comedy fans were used to seeing Dangerfield in lighter fare, but there was nothing light about the role of a perverted, sexually and ... more

Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy on "30 Rock" – Alec Baldwin's comedy chops previously had only been tested for three minutes at a time on SNL. Carrying a full 30-minute sitcom every week and standing toe-to-toe with comedy heavyweights Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan seemed like an ill-fit for many who only saw him as a dramatic actor. less

Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy on "30 Rock" – Alec Baldwin's comedy chops previously had only been tested for three minutes at a time on SNL. Carrying a full 30-minute sitcom every week and standing toe-to-toe ... more

Sigourney Weaver as Ripley in "Alien" – Sigourney Weaver did not look like your typical Hollywood scream queen. But little did audiences know that "Alien" was not your typical horror movie or creature feature. It burned slowly, letting tensions build until audiences were ready to pop. The role of Ripley, which would carry the film, required more than just another actress with a big bust and set of lungs. less

Sigourney Weaver as Ripley in "Alien" – Sigourney Weaver did not look like your typical Hollywood scream queen. But little did audiences know that "Alien" was not your typical horror movie or creature ... more

Brad Pitt as Jeffrey Goines in "12 Monkeys" – So you want to take Hollywood's hunkiest actor at the time, turn him crazy, mess up his face and make him spend half the film in a psych ward hospital gown?

Brad Pitt as Jeffrey Goines in "12 Monkeys" – So you want to take Hollywood's hunkiest actor at the time, turn him crazy, mess up his face and make him spend half the film in a psych ward hospital gown?

Tom Cruise as Les Grossman in "Tropic Thunder" – Not a lot of directors would have had the courage to take one of Hollywood's most handsome actors of all time, put him in a fat suit, make him bald and cover him in man fur. The result was comic genius, though. less

Tom Cruise as Les Grossman in "Tropic Thunder" – Not a lot of directors would have had the courage to take one of Hollywood's most handsome actors of all time, put him in a fat suit, make him bald and cover ... more

Will Smith as Muhammad Ali in "Ali" – Smith was already a bonafide action star, so audiences knew he could handle the physicality of the role. What he had yet to show in earlier roles was his range as a dramatic actor. less

Will Smith as Muhammad Ali in "Ali" – Smith was already a bonafide action star, so audiences knew he could handle the physicality of the role. What he had yet to show in earlier roles was his range as a ... more